Calming Redness

When I think of long weekends like most Canadians I think of summer cottage trips, warm summer nights and family BBQ's. However, this February long weekend is more like crippling cold weather and red irritated skin.  With a few helpful tips and some great soothing products here are my top three ways to calming red angry skin. 

1. Drink Water

Personally I always think hot weather equates do dehydration but always over look the fact cold weather can mean dehydration too. So my first tip for you is to drink plenty of water. Redness (and dryness) will significantly decrease ifyour body is hydrated. 

2. Avene Soothing Moisture Mask 

This has to be one of my favourite masks of all time, while it hydrates the skin it also reduces redness like no ones business. The Avene website suggests you remove this mask but I highly recommend letting your skin soak in all the benefits over night. This creamy colourless mask is perfect for soothing irritated skin but it's also great at soothing sunburns too. 

If you suffer from rosacea or extreme redness I highly recommend Avene's Antirougeurs Calm Soothing Masking. 

3. A-Derma Exomega  

Although I have quite sensitive skin on my face for the most part my body is not. Yes, its true I can usually get away using the most perfumed, the most chemically filled products the market has to offer. Not saying that is good but you get what I mean! However something happens when it gets cold and dry... all those perfume-y body washes I loved irritate the hell out of my skin. I'm sure most of you get those red, bumpy, itchy patches under your arms too and my cure for that is A-Derma's Exomega. This perfume free oat based shower gel, helps reduce redness, hydrate and product. Plus the formula is so mild it can be used on the entire family. 

What are some of your redness reducing tips leave me a comment.

For those Canadians reading this I hope your all enjoying the long weekend and enduring this harsh weather! 

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil Review

Beautifying oils have been a widespread trend for the past couple of years. Unlike BB creams, CC creams, DD creams and EE creams? Which letter of the alphabet letter of tinted moisturizer are we on now? Seriously though unlike so many gimmicky trends in the beauty industry, beautifying oils are definitely a trend I can get behind. So when I heard the Clarins aka masters of beauty oils were coming out with lip oil I was all over that.

Before we talk about cool ingredients or the cute chubby doe foot applicator I think we need to address texture. I don’t know you but when I think an oil lip product the first thing that comes to mind is mess. So let’s set the recorded straight the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil is no as liquid-y as I first anticipated. This thicker texture makes it easy to apply without worrying about it smearing on your face. It also means you don’t have to worry about product leaking in your handbag or falling on your pants, car, shirt, car seat… you get the point.

Staying true to the Clarins range you can bet this oil is packed with incredible ingredients. This powerfully hydrating lip oil boasts hazelnut oil, jajoba oil and plum oil (in honey shade). These oils work together to soften, plump and hydrate the lips. I would say this product is ideal for chapped lips, but the non-sticky crowed pleasing texture combined subtle shine finish makes it perfect for everyday use too.

The applicator is a chubby doe foot similar to Clarins cream blushes they released a couple of year back. Winning points for those of you who remember the Instant Light Blushes… Vitamin Pink still is one of my favorite blush colours of all time. What I am trying to get to was personally I found the huge doe foot too big to apply blush, but for lips it’s a whole other story. Not only does the huge applicator pick up the perfect about of product but it also ever so comfortably hugs your lips during application too.

It’s beyond satisfying…

I would say if you’re looking for a shiny lip product get this, but Clarins Lip Comfort Oil is more than that. If you needed something to hydrate, protect and nourish all while smelling great, having a long list of great ingredients and giving you a subtle shine get the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil.

Plus what other lip product has the ability to hug your lips too??

Skin Care Myth’s

If you haven’t noticed skincare fascinates me, but my passion didn’t originate from choice. Nope as an eczema sufferer I would say I was forced into the skincare world. For me the switch went off when conventional eczema cures didn’t work, it was then and there that I became an expert in my own skin. Not only did I become an expert at my own skin, but the science behind these products and the art routine enticed me. With that all being said (and there is no other way to say it) there is a lot of bullshit out there. So today I debunk some of these skincare myths.

You Need to Buy the Whole Line

You finally find the perfect moisturizer and the sales lady tell you “you need to purchase the whole line to see it work”. If she then tells you “they are all formulated together to achieve the desired results” I would sincerely question the quality of the product you want to purchase. Personally I have never stuck to an entire line of products. Actually I highly doubt you will find any beauty blogger or beauty editor that does. Things in my routine are amazing stand-alone products and they should be in your routine too. If you whole range of products works for you perfect, but if you want to mix things up, do it!

Toner

The talk of using toner brings up some passionate beliefs in people. Most toners contain high amounts of alcohol which instantly dry out your skin. Why? It gives the illusion that you’re moisturizing working better. I’ve also heard that toner brings your skin back to its natural PH. Maybe way-back-when this would have applied, but since todays cleansers are gentle water soluble formula’s I don’t buy it. Do you need them? I personally don’t think so.

There are a ton of toners out there that do more than dry out your skin. Some moisturize while other exfoliate … these are not the alcohol based toners I am talking about.  

Eye Creams

Could these little pricey pots of cream be all hype, no action? Yes… because theoretically you can moisturize your eye area with you regular everyday moisturizer. Exceptions do apply this this rule like if you happen to be using an intense anti-aging cream.  Also personally I’ve had eczema on my eye lid in needed a specialized cream for the area. Personally, I like the way an eye creams feel so I still continue to use them. However do you really need them… no.

Sunday Beauty Haul

One of my favourite things to do ever is wander the drugstore and look for new product or hidden gems. I'm telling you if you want to have a fun time, grab a coffee, a best friend and hit up your local drugstore. Not only it a good time but it's a great way to get feed back on different products. With a handful of beauty products and the other hand filled with strawberry jelly candies I bring you my Sunday Beauty Haul. 

Ponds Cold Cream Cleanser

There is something about Ponds Cold Cream line that has always interested me. Maybe its the fact the Ponds has been making cold cream since the 1910? or maybe its the fact that its one of the first drugstore cult products? Not sure but this on sale, rose scented cleanser spoke to me. Plus let's face it I am on a drugstore skincare kick at the moment. 

Physicians Formula Argan Oil 

Adding to my drugstore skincare addiction is the new offerings from Physicians Formula's Aragn Line. This 100% Argan oil seemed like a bargain in comparison to the very famous Josie Maran version. This also happened to be on sale and had a 9 dollar in store rebate attached to it... I walked away paying 6.00 for this. I haven't tried this yet but expect a review in the near future.

Physicians Forumla Argan Oil Blush in Rose

I am new to Physicians formula so for all I know there products might be amazing. What I can tell you is in my opinion there products seem gimmick-y. A quick look at there website and I found a blush that makes you happy, a lipgloss with a superpower seductive scent and magical PH tone adjusting powders. PH and colour tone... is there a correlation? I don't know! 

I do know Argan infused blush might seem like a genus idea for dry skinned ladies so in my cart that went.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil 

I am a total fan of Clarins oil's in general! I mean there body oils are heavenly, there facial oils are some of my all time favorites, so the release of a lip oil had me jumping to the moon. I have tried this and so far I like it, please prepare yourself for a review soon. 

Nothing beats good conversation, drugstore beauty shopping mixed with some yummy jelly candy. 

What have you been buying recently? leave me a comment! 

Empties #6

The one thing I like about empties... well there actually a few things.

I love reading people empties because I love the speedy on point reviews.

I love using these as a cross reference of things to things I loved or things I hated.

But most of all I find it so rewarding throwing everything into the garbage once I'm done.

So I thought what better time to get some instant gratification?

Note to self... Tanya you need to go out more!

Dove Dry Shampoo

Here is the thing with this one it leaves a white residue and I'm not the biggest fan of the scent. With that being said it works and since it works I tolerate the temporary white residue. Would I buy again?? I think there are better but pricier choices out there. However if I quickly need a refresh before jolting out to grocery store this is my top, budget friendly pick.

Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo

I LOVE the scent of this shampoo and over the past years I have probably gone through over 20 of these. Not only does it smell nice but it leaves my hair soft, nourished and incredibly light. Will I buy this again? Absolutely it's one of my favourite budget friendly shampoos of all time.

Klorane Floral Lotion Eye Makeup Remover

This is an effective, non-irritating eye makeup remover that made makeup removal easy. If your a fan of the water like feel of Bioderma I think this will be up your alley. I can't say how well this removes waterproof mascara but I had no problems with this. I will absolutely be purchasing this again, I just have a bottle of Bioderma to use first.

NUXE Creme Merveillance

This rich, hylauronic acid based cream made my parched skin so happy. Even the scent of this was something I looked forward to every morning! This unfortunately has been discontinued, but if it hadn't have been I would have purchased by now.

NUXE Oil Prodigieuse

This has to be one of the best multitasking product's I own. You can use this on your hair, body and face, I also recommend using this in the bath too! This light weight oil absorbs instantly leaving you with hydrated, soft skin. Oh and it smells pretty darn mind blowing too! I have already opened a fresh bottle of this and will continue to repurhcase.

Avene Gentle Purifying Scrub

If you were looking for a really effective scrub for sensitive skin this scrub is for you. I think a lot of scrubs designed for sensitive skin simply don’t work, this one does both as a chemical scrub and a physical scrub. I did a in depth review here, should you care to find out more.

At the moment I have a couple of scrubs to get through but I will be going back to this in the future.

REN Bio Retinoid Eye Cream

Bio Retinoid is an eye cream for sensitive skin sufferers who want a little anti-aging in their routine.

While this didn’t do anything remarkable for fine lines it was pleasant enough to use. I will probably not repurchase, but was it wasn’t a bad eye cream in the slightest.

Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shower Gel

This shower gel also happens to be a bubble bath and shampoo too! I love these because they make your shower routine a one stop shop and they have tons of really fun flavours too. There are tons of body washes I love and Philosophy 3 in 1’s are among my favorites. I will repurchase another one most likely something fun and fruity during the summer.

L'occitane Almond Shower Oil

This is really, really hydrating with the added benefit of smelling yummy too! If you someone who suffers from seasonally dry skin, love the scent of almond or both I have a whole write up about this here. I have already repurchased another mini of this and highly recommend it to you.

Substitute this for your normal shaving gel and it will blow you away!

What have you finished lately? Leave me a comment!

Palmers Skin Therapy Oil Review

Lets be frank here, for years drugstore skincare has been a little of a let down. I have always felt drugstore skincare has favorited oily skin types and mature skin types and left everyone else out. Not only did it leave us out but product innovation didn't seem like a high point either. BUT things are changing, so when I was offered to try a drug store facial oil you can bet I was all over that.

Palmers Skin Therapy Oil is a blend of sesame, coconut, grape seed, sweet almond, rose hip, sun sunflower, apricot and Argan oils.Although the Palmers Skin Therapy is nutrient heavy it feels ever so light on the skin. Personally I use this oil as a serum and follow with a moisturizer on top. Actually the formula is so light it reminds me of some famous high end brands I've tried over the years. Could this be a dupe for Caudalie Polyphenol?

The bottom line is it doesn't matter Palmers holds it's own.

Another bell this oil boasts it the addition of Retinol. Retinol is a form of vitamin A and one of the only proven ways to reverse signs of aging. In addition to combating fine line retinol can also be used to erase sunspots and acne scarring.  In a nutshell Retinol speeds up cellular turnover, which for us means newer fresher looking skin faster. The problem with retinol is it can be irritating and can also lead sun damage. Luckily for me the Palmers did not lead to any irritation to my skin, instead it left my skin hydrated and bright.

As for the sun damage I can't stress how import it is to wear sun screen daily... but that is another post.

As for the whistle Palmers also contains Vitamin E. Again another magical skincare ingredient that brightens up the face and works beautifully with the retinol. Actually I like that this contains both retinol and vitamin e, because it makes it a one stop shop to my routine.

Basically, if you haven't noticed the Palmers Skin Therapy Oil has got it going on. If this bottle was unmarked I would have bet this cost a small fortune. Luckily Skin Therapy doesn't cost a fortune. Nope people this dream oil costs around the $10.00 mark at you can get it at your local Walmart. In addition to being a great product this oil also contains no parabens, phthalates and it's dermatologist tested. 

3 Things Sephora

Happy Sunday! Today has been a pretty lazy day, I have to admit. I would like to give my self credit for baking, however since its 5:00pm and I'm already in bed all that productive credit some how disappears. So while lurking Sephora's website. I use the work lurking because my obsession is just that creepy. Basically I have noticed 3 products in my cart that I have been meaning to buy, but have never got around to it. Since I know a lot of you love beauty too I thought I would share and you can give me your opinion. 

Here we go!

REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask 

I got a little sample of this 2 years ago and I fell head over heals. This made my skin clear, bright and luminous... pretty much everything you would want from a mask. Unlike other acid heavy masks I've tried this one doesn't irritate my sensitive skin nor does it have a painful tingle.

I'm looking at you GlamGlo!

Why haven't I bought this yet? Beats me but I have to get this. 

NARS Creamy Radient Concealer 

 Right now I use a combination of two concealers and at first I loved the results but now I find it takes to long to apply. So once my concealers are done I will be on the lookout for a new one. 

Which brings me to the NARS... I have heard nothing but great things about this concealer. People claim it to pack a lot of coverage but doesn't settle into fine lines.

Have any of you guys tried this? What are your suggestions of a high coverage, under eye concealer? 

Caudalie Beauty Elixer 

I really like the sounds of this spritz. I think why I have been so reluctant to purchase this is the mixed reviews. On one hand people claim this to be a miracle worker, but on the other people claim this to be all hype no action. I'm still on the fence about this and was wondering if any of you ladies have tried it?

Those are the products I have been tossing and turning over. 

Feel free to leave me a comment! If you recommend another product I would love to hear your  thoughts!